“Nobody thought (Wayne) Gretzky would get traded either, or Ray Bourque … you can go on and on,” said Phillips, the Senators first overall pick in 1996 who has paid them back with 1122 of loyal, steady service.

“Obviously my life is here. I’ve been here since Day 1 and right now no, I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. But I have to be realistic about pro sports and everything that goes on with it, that there’s a possibility that could happen some day.”

That day could be any of them leading up to Mar. 5, the NHL trade deadline. Phillips is eligible to be a free agent July 1. The Senators, who have a youthful blue line, could re-sign him. Given his leadership qualities and still dependable D-zone play, it would be a good idea. But if they don’t, if they hang on to him through the trade deadline, they run the risk of losing him for nothing, like they did Alfredsson.

Does Phillips fit into their plans? No one is sure, including No. 4 himself. But he is certain that, even though he’ll be 36 in less than two weeks, he wants more than a one-year contract.

“I feel like I’ve got lots of hockey left in me,” said Phillips. “I don’t want to get into talking about what’s been discussed, as far as contract stuff, but yeah, that’s how I feel.”

If the Senators feel differently, if they choose to go in another direction … like he said, he can now imagine himself being somewhere else. He’d rather not, but he can.

“Yeah, if or when this team says ‘thanks for everything’ and I feel like I still have hockey left in me,” he said. “I’m sure there are other scenarios, but you have to be realistic about this game too. If there comes a day when this team feels like I’ve done all I can do for them, and there’s no part for me, that’s where a decision comes of either I agree with them, or there’s another team that’s willing to give me a chance.

“We’ll see if that ever happens.”

In the meantime, he and his family discuss the possibilities.

“I’d be lying if I came home and just ignored the whole thing,” said Phillips. “It’s obviously a bigger deal to a family, with kids, and what you would do in that situation and everything that surrounds that.

“Yeah, there’s been obviously lots of discussions if something was to happen. That’s tomorrow, that’s in the summer time, that’s two years from now … at any time.”

Milan Michalek is just 29 and he has only put in five seasons with the Senators, but he too could be on the move before next Wednesday and it would be the loss of a player that has meant much to the team. If not, the Senators could see him also walk away in July, and get nothing in return.

Like Phillips, he ponders his contract situation and the possibility he’s playing his final games in Canada’s capital.

“Yeah, you think about it, especially when I’m not having a really good season,” said Michalek, whose production has dropped off to 10 goals and 15 assists in 59 games so far this season. “If (a trade) happens, it happens. You’re not going to do anything about that.

“I’m just trying to do my best here. I like it here in Ottawa. I love the city, the fans are great here too. It’s been great here. I wish I was going to stay here, but if it happens it happens.”

Asked if there’s been much chatter between his agent and Senators GM Bryan Murray, Michalek shrugged.

“Not a lot I think so far, but we’ll see,” he said. “The trade deadline is getting close. We’ll see.”

“Nobody thought (Wayne) Gretzky would get traded either, or Ray Bourque … you can go on and on,” said Phillips, the Senators first overall pick in 1996 who has paid them back with 1122 of loyal, steady service.

“Obviously my life is here. I’ve been here since Day 1 and right now no, I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. But I have to be realistic about pro sports and everything that goes on with it, that there’s a possibility that could happen some day.”